Leon is an action hero in Resident Evil Requiem because “people wouldn’t want to see [him] timid”
The company originally toyed with making his segments more overtly terrifying.
A lot has changed since Resident Evil 2, the game in which Leon S. Kennedy made his debut. Back then, he was a rookie cop who, on his very first day, had the misfortune of running into the apocalypse. Umbrella Corporation’s experiments plunged Raccoon City into total disaster: a lifeless city overrun by zombies hungry for flesh and entrails. Now, Leon returns once again in Resident Evil Requiem, but his role has little to do with his classic incarnation.
Capcom experimented with Leon throughout the development of Resident Evil Requiem. At first, the team considered a more horror-oriented approach, but that vision was ultimately discarded because it was not seen as consistent with the character’s current state. By this point, Leon has faced hordes of zombies and infected creatures; he is no longer the inexperienced rookie players controlled in Resident Evil 2.
Two protagonists, two distinct roles
“We actually tried to make a genuine horror game with Leon,” revealed director Koshi Nakanishi, “but sure enough we thought that people wouldn’t want to see a timid Leon. That was the overwhelming opinion, at least.” That role instead falls to co-protagonist Grace Ashcroft, who lacks Leon’s experience with this kind of horrific creature.
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Resident Evil Requiem will launch on February 27 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
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